PDP tackles ACN over Tukur’s comments LEON USIGBE and JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI-ABUJA Friday, 30 November 2012 THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for what it said was the opposition party’s deliberate misrepresentation of the comments made by the national chairman of the PDP, Dr Bamanga Tukur, on political parties and the nation’s security challenges. The spokesman of the ruling party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, that the ACN was engaged in “an exercise in mischief and a palpable ignorance of the collective responsibility of all Nigerians towards a better secured nation.” While fielding questions from State House correspondents on Tuesday, Dr Tukur had regretted the growing security challenges in the country but noted that there was little political parties could do since they were not security organizations. “Ours is to ensure that our members are sensitised to be security conscious. We are also encouraging them to give useful information that can help bring these miscreants to book. So it is not a political party’s role to dabble into security,” the party boss had stated. But in its reaction, the ACN observed that ‘’what the PDP chairman is saying, in essence, is that his party is no longer fit to rule and that Nigerians should look elsewhere if indeed they want a government that will ensure the security of life and property.” But the PDP spokesman contended that it was unfortunate that an honest disposition of its National Chairman was mischievously interpreted as “lack of capacity” by the ACN. According to him, “We are not surprised that the unassuming and honest comment of our National Chairman has provided a sweet nectar for the moth of mischief to feed on. This is another weak attempt by the ACN to detract from the merit of the efforts of the PDP led Federal Government in returning the nation to the path of greatness. “In spite, we shall remain steadfast in our humble approach to leadership. The PDP is an organic institution which can err, accept responsibilities while remaining focused on lasting solution. We are not a self righteous political party like the ACN which claim” to be light” but radiate darkness.” He added: “all over the world, the increasing incidence of global insecurity is the responsibility of the authorities that be as well as that of the individual citizenry. Surmounting the challenge is the function of the unity of the efforts of all, political divide notwithstanding.” “We are sure that no objective assessment by any Nigerian will relegate the untiring commitment of the PDP led Federal Government in stemming the tide of insecurity in the country. Our government has been pursuing the option of dialogue. It is also pursuing that of minimal force, as the characters in the insurgency are also Nigerians.” The PDP further said that the ACN accusation of “clueless leadership” has no basis either in empirical facts or in any stretch of imagination.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 04:22:17 +0000